You don’t have to be a genius to realise that an ever increasing amount of people are struggling to get ahead financially, with a recent survey revealing that 69 percent of adults have less than $1000 of savings in the bank. The survey found that low levels of savings existed among people of all income levels, with with nearly half of those who earned between $100,000 and $149,000 reporting savings of less than $1000.

Examining the spending habits of Millennials in particular, a new study has found that impulse shopping is the top reason that those under the age of 34 are struggling to save money. The study that was published in the Journal of Accountancy, spoke to 500 employed adults between the ages of 25 and 34, finding that over half of those surveyed (55 percent) felt that their impulse shopping habits were getting in the way of their major savings goals. According to the Journal, impulse shoppers are those who are, “defined as consumers who make an unplanned purchase of $30 or more on a daily or weekly basis.”

The study found that around 84 percent of Millennials believed that their low salaries were getting in the way of their savings goals, while 81 percent thought that living expenses were an issue and 79 percent felt that debt was getting in the way of savings.

While there are certainly obstacles that stand in the way of saving, Gregory Anton, CPA, CGMA, chair of the AICPA’s National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, says that saving is still possible. “While low salaries and high debt levels can certainly be barriers to saving, the key is to create a budget and stick to it,” he said. “Establishing a disciplined saving strategy early in life and avoiding missteps will reap substantial long-term dividends.”